Letterhead
Brooklyn, N.Y., March 28th, 1905.
Hon. Timothy L. Woodruff,
339 Broadway,
New York City.
My dear Woodruff:-
I have no doubt that you noticed in this morning's paper the significant statement by Mr. Andrew Carnegie that he finds the library business dull, and is now planning to give his money to small Colleges. Undoubtedly the result of this announcement will be very large number of applications within the new few weeks for help of various kinds to small Colleges all over the country. Would it not be wise for the officers of our Board to unite in a statement to Mr. Carnegie, which should be among the first to reach him, and which would set forth in concise shape the reasons why this College is particularly deserving. I think we all have the main details of such a statement at the ends of our tongues: The 350 students; the rapidly growing numbers in a College without a campus or suitable buildings that are exclusively its own; the almost unlimited possibilities of developing for collegiate work in a community so large as this; the constantly increasing demand from the large graduating classes of the Brooklyn High Schools; the prohibitory restraints imposed by distance from Columbia or New York University; the need of giving institutional character and independence to Brooklyn that it may be preserved from becoming another "East End of London." Here is an opportunity to set forth the need for endowments for professorial chairs, and for the purchase of a campus, and the erection of suitable buildings, including of course a library.
[marginalia] Cant you get access to Mr. Carnegie, or to his Grand Almoner, if there be one? I suppose that he has some one who advises him about such things, as Mr. Murphy advises Mr. Rochefeller.
Miss Scharff has cabled to me that she will sail April 1st. Inasmuch as she may interview different trustees when she gets here, and inasmuch as she may be rather explosive, would it be will for me to send to each trustee a statement of the reasons why we want to sever her connection with the institution? Some of the trustees know nothing about our discussion at the last meeting, and most of them of course know nothing about the action of the officers a few days ago. The next meeting of the Board will not occur until Monday evening, Apr. 24. At that meeting I hope that we can consider my resolutions about a proposal to the city Fathers to establish scholarships at the city expense in our College. I think that Dr. Atkinson will ask the Poly Board to adopt the same policy. Our old friend, A. S. Haight, says that such action will put an end to the Grout scheme. I hope also that the Board will consider in April a proposition to begin the next year with the abolition of all discount rates to classes of citizens, and to treat hereafter every individual case of need, upon application upon its individual merits. The Packer has already adopted this rule. Dr Atkiinson & Dr. Abernathy of the Berkeley Institute also, favor such action. If all the private schools unite in this, there will be no danger to any one I presume.
Faithfully Yours
Charles H. Levermore